Specialist Decode

Three real-life cases that recently occurred, where the patients all shared a common symptom: "headache."

Severe headaches cannot simply be alleviated with painkillers; moreover, headaches are a common symptom of brain tumors, cerebral hemorrhage, and central nervous system infections, and should not be overlooked. This article continues to discuss the diagnosis and treatment of cerebral arteriovenous malformations and cerebral aneurysms, aiming to find the most suitable treatment plans through diagnosis and assessment.

Neurosurgery encompasses a broad range of procedures. Minimally invasive neurosurgery under a microscope is applicable for the brain, spine, stroke, and pain management. These surgeries are performed to treat diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems, their surrounding blood vessels, and related spinal disorders.

​Many people experience headaches, and the World Health Organization ranks it as the third most common disease. What are the causes of headaches? Is there a definitive cure for headaches?

Mr. Wong was alarmed one morning when he noticed his mouth muscles uncontrollable, drooling involuntarily, and his face asymmetrical in the mirror, fearing he had a stroke.

Accidental bumps to the head against a cabinet or playful shoving that leads to head shaking or injury are often overlooked and forgotten. Patients usually only start to notice discomfort three weeks to three months later, seeking consultation from neurosurgeons.

Many of us have experienced limb numbness, often due to prolonged periods in an incorrect posture, which can be relieved simply by adjusting our position.

Hong Kong records approximately 800 new cases of trigeminal neuralgia annually, but due to a lack of awareness among the populace, a majority of cases remain undiagnosed. What exactly is trigeminal neuralgia?

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) is a surgical procedure to treat cervical spine disorders. These disorders are often caused by degeneration, overuse, or injury. Problems can occur in cervical discs, facet joints, or the vertebral bodies. 

Many people have experienced twitching of the eyebrow, but abnormal twitching may be a symptom of hemifacial spasm (HFS), a neurological disorder characterised by involuntary, irregular contractions of the muscles on one side of the face.

​According to government data, stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in Hong Kong, claiming over 3,000 lives annually. Medically referred to as "cerebrovascular disease," stroke occurs due to blockage or rupture of blood vessels in the brain. Faced with this silent killer, what should one do if unfortunately afflicted?

After a stroke, necrotic brain cells compress other parts of the brain, potentially leading to a fatal crisis if the brainstem, which connects the brain to the spinal cord, is compressed. Stroke treatment and surgery depend on the type of stroke, and appropriate treatment combined with active rehabilitation and lifestyle adjustments can prevent another stroke.

Over the past couple of decades, the widespread use of computers and smartphones has made cervical spine disorders increasingly common among not only adults but also our children and teenagers. 

The pituitary gland, located centrally at the base of the brain, is the primary hormone control center of the body. What problems can arise if the pituitary gland develops a tumor?

Acoustic neuromas account for about 8% of all intracranial tumors. Regionally, these tumors are commonly found in the cerebellopontine angle, constituting approximately 80 to 90% of all tumors in this area.

When abnormal proliferation occurs in local brain tissue, it can form a tumour, which may be benign or malignant, commonly referred to as brain cancer.

A cerebral aneurysm, often termed a silent killer, quietly lurks deep within the cranial vessels, showing no overt symptoms yet capable of fatal outcomes. Many patients only discover they have this condition after an aneurysm ruptures, causing acute stroke or severe headaches.

Meningioma is the second most common primary intracranial tumour, second only to gliomas, accounting for approximately 15 to 24% of intracranial tumours.

This article discusses microvascular decompression surgery, a definitive treatment for trigeminal neuralgia, glossopharyngeal neuralgia, and hemifacial spasm.

It is common for city dwellers to experience back pain, but only a few actively seek treatment. Once back pain occurs, the most important thing is to seek medical advice to alleviate the symptoms and prevent recurrence.

Trigeminal neuralgia, cervical, and sciatic pain are highly distressing conditions. How can these symptoms be effectively alleviated? This article introduces radiofrequency treatment to readers.

Due to identical cervical spine pathologies, different patients may exhibit varying clinical symptoms, which can be significantly diverse and complex. Simply relying on symptoms to diagnose cervical spine disorders is insufficient. 

This article will discuss stroke rehabilitation and post-care. Moreover, understanding the causes of stroke and implementing targeted prevention strategies to avoid recurrence are also critical topics. 

To recap, ischaemic strokes account for 70% of stroke cases, caused by cerebral vascular occlusion. The optimal treatment is to administer medication or perform minimally invasive catheter procedures within the critical golden hour to reopen the blocked vessel and save the brain cells at risk of dying due to lack of blood flow.

Dizziness is a common symptom caused by various factors, ranging from benign conditions to serious medical emergencies. While many individuals experience dizziness due to minor illnesses, this symptom can also signal more severe underlying issues, such as brainstem stroke, other types of stroke, brain tumours, or cervical disc herniation.

Cerebrovascular surgery is a specialised field within neurosurgery, responsible for the prevention, emergency care, and rehabilitation of strokes, forming what is commonly referred to as the “three-part approach” to stroke management. 

Stroke ranks as the third or fourth leading cause of death in Hong Kong and China, following cancer, heart disease, and infectious diseases. Among survivors of severe diseases, however, stroke remains the top cause of permanent disability.

According to medical literature, most strokes are caused by congenital or acquired structural abnormalities in the brain or neck blood vessels. A smaller proportion of strokes are attributed to blood or cardiac conditions. 

In modern healthcare, routine physical examinations are regarded as an essential means of disease prevention. Due to its convenience and the broad range of markers it can assess, blood testing is often perceived as a "universal" tool for evaluating health.

There must be a revolutionary shift in the traditional perception of cerebrovascular accidents, particularly in the passive acceptance of progressive neurological deterioration and the perceived inevitability of disability or death. 

Involuntary trembling of the hands is a common symptom among middle-aged and older adults. However, many people immediately associate hand tremors with Parkinson’s disease, which can lead to unnecessary anxiety. In reality, Essential Tremor (ET) is the most prevalent movement disorder encountered in clinical practice, with a prevalence approximately 20 times higher than that of Parkinson’s disease.

Trauma to the head, whether through direct impact or shaking, can result in varying degrees of brain injury. Although the brain is protected by the skull, accidents in daily life, such as those occurring during sports like basketball or football, or in road traffic collisions, can still cause significant neurological damage and long-term sequelae.